Budgets substituted for one that raises taxes

After nearly three hours last night, Oconee County Council settled on a new budget that will raise taxes by nearly 1.5 mills.  Meeting as the budget committee, the council discarded a previously agreed on budget that avoided a tax increase by transferring $400 thousand dollars from the county’s profitable rock quarry operations.  But, last night Chairman Cain and council members Thrift and Dexter decided that it’s better to raise taxes by a small amount this year than a larger amount next.  District Four’s Joel Thrift said by approving pay raises for sheriff’s officers and other county workers the council had gotten into the predicament of failing to square expenses with revenues.  Thrift was challenged by District Two’s Wayne McCall who pleaded with his colleagues to wait with the hope that the next tax assessment will bring in more revenue.  McCall said he has never voted for a tax increase.  On every budget vote last night, he cast the only dissenting vote.  District One’s Edda Cammick was not present for the meeting. A public hearing on Oconee’s new budgets is set for June 14.